Strictly fans have claimed that they’ve spotted the moment judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas ‘gave away’ the dance off result before Lewis Cope‘s unexpected elimination was announced.

Fans were stunned to see the Billy Elliot actor leave the competition on Sunday and raged his axe was the ‘biggest robbery in show history’.

The Emmerdale star, 30, and his pro partner Katya Jones, 36, were tipped to win the competition and sat at the top of the leaderboard most weeks.

So it came as a shock when Strictly viewers watched Lewis land in the dreaded dance-off with Amber Davies, 29, and Nikita Kuzmin, 27.

And viewers have now reflected on the result saying at the end of Katya and Lewis’s dance off efforts, they noticed some out of the ordinary behaviour from Shirley and Motsi.

As the couple posed at the end of the routine the two women can be seen to the left of the screen – both with their heads in their hands.

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Strictly fans have claimed that they’ve spotted the moment judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas ‘gave away’ the dance off result before Lewis Cope’s unexpected elimination was announced

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As the couple posed at the end of the routine the two women can be seen to the left of the screen – both with their heads in their hands

Alongside a video circulating of the moment one viewer wrote on X: ‘Motsi and Shirley’s reaction after Lewis’ dance off says it all.’

Other penned underneath the clip: ‘They both clearly did not want to vote…’,

‘I’ve never seen Shirley so speechless and almost in tears. There should be a rule that says if the dance off contains couples so high scoring and/or so close in score then if all judges agree then no one goes home.’,

‘Farce of a show. It’s about popularity, not ability.’

Katya broke down on Monday’s It Takes Two as she admitted she blames herself for her and Lewis‘s elimination – after fans fumed over his exit.

She said while breaking down: ‘Looking back, obviously, I can’t help but think I could have done things differently to make things better for him. He can only do what I’ve asked him to do, and he didn’t just do that this time.

‘He did that every single time. We were in a tough position expected to deliver these almost-perfect, show stopping routines every single Saturday, which you did. I don’t know how you did. But you did.’

Lewis put an arm around her as he sweetly insisted: ‘Because of you!’

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Fans were stunned to see the Billy Elliot actor leave the competition on Sunday and raged his axe was the ‘biggest robbery in show history’

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Alongside a video circulating of the moment one viewer wrote on X: ‘Motsi and Shirley’s reaction after Lewis’ dance off says it all’

Despite both being at the top end of the leaderboard for Musicals week, Lewis and Amber had to perform their routines once more to fight for their place in next week’s semi-finals.

Amber and Nikita – who scored 40 on Saturday night – performed their Charleston to Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys and Dolls, before Lewis and Katya performed their Salsa to Dance at the Gym from West Side Story.

Judge Shirley said of the dance-off result: ‘I’m speechless. Absolutely speechless. You have to dance for your place in the semi-final. We are all admiring of all you. May the best man win’.

Motsi had the casting vote and also decided to put Amber and Nikita through to the semi-final, after the other three judges voted for the former Love Island star.

Fans were outrage by the dance off results as many thought Lewis deserved to win this year’s glitterball.

They wrote on X: ‘I’m so heart broken for Katya, I really thought she’d win it this year’;

‘I can’t believe we’re never gonna see another Lewis and Katya dance. I’m devastated’; ‘I feel weird about that result. Lewis was clearly final worthy. Such a shame.’

‘So gutted. Lewis was incredible, he really didn’t deserve to go home this early’.

When asked by host Tess Daly about his time on the show, Lewis said: ‘It’s been more than I could have ever wished for.

‘If someone would have said that I’d have done 11 weeks on the show at the beginning, I’d have been over the moon and snap their hand off.

‘So, thank you to the full show, to everyone for having a space where people can be themselves, grow, learn, express themselves. It’s been incredible and a memory that I’ll have for the rest of my life, and [to Katya] I think it’s all down to you.

‘You’ve literally given me absolutely everything I could wish for as a friend, as a teacher, and yeah, I couldn’t imagine it with anybody else. So, thank you very much.’

Speaking to Lewis about their partnership, Katya then said: ‘I think you have created so many moments for Strictly Come Dancing that will be in the history books and you will be remembered as one of, if not, the best male celebrity we’ve ever had on the show, but also you will be remembered for being an incredible person you are.

‘Kind and genuine people still exist – what a gentleman you are, so humble and so kind.

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Katya broke down on Monday’s It Takes Two as she admitted she blames herself for her and Lewis’s elimination – after fans fumed over his exit

‘And I’m so glad that we had a chance to see you and showcase your talent and what a beautiful person you are to the world. Thank you.’

When asked by Tess about the support he’s been shown on the show, Lewis said: ‘It’s everything, isn’t it? I mean, what is life without people?

‘And this show, I’ve seen how it’s brought people together, not just in my family, but it seems to lift people up. And it’s definitely brought my family, four generations, together every Saturday night – my Nana Dot sitting there smiling all the time.

‘You know, young boys who thought that dancing wasn’t accessible for them or whatever. They started dancing now and have sent us videos. And you know, if you can change one person’s life like that, then that’s enough.’